Reign of Ice (Forever Fae #4)(34)

“How do you like being in the Winter Court?” Lukas asked. “I know it has to be a huge change coming from Summer.”

“Oh, it has been a major change, but I had always been fascinated with the Winter Court. I think deep down I knew I was meant to be here,” I said, leaning against one of the old wooden desks. Flipping through some of the books, I noticed that whoever inhabited this library loved the mortal classics.

“You fought well yesterday, Your Highness. I know the warriors were impressed with your ability to counter Prince Brayden. How did you know our technique?”

I smiled at him as I remembered the fun I had training with Kamden. “I had a friend in the Spring Court who taught me some Winter techniques. He used to be Winter until he followed Kalen to the Spring Court,” I answered.

“Who was it?” Lukas inquired, furrowing his brow.

“His name is Kamden. Do you know who I’m talking about?”

He grinned and started to chuckle. “Ah, yes, I know who Kamden is. He’s my younger brother. I wanted to come fight with him when we attacked to help Sorcha and your brother rescue her guardian and friend, except I was needed here. How is he by the way?”

Thinking of Kamden and Zanna made me miss them greatly. “He’s doing really well. He and Zanna are going to bond soon,” I informed him.

Lukas sighed happily and shook his head. “Well, it’s about time they decided on it. Our parents will be happy to hear it.”

Before I could say anything else, the feeling of unease and despair engulfed my body. I clutched my stomach and swallowed hard. Lukas noticed my hesitation and flew over to my side. “Are you ill, Princess?” he asked, taking my arm to steady me.

Without hesitating any further, I grabbed his hand and pulled him quickly to the door. “We have to get out of here, Lukas. He’s coming and he’s close,” I told him. “I knew I should’ve stayed with everyone else. The sorcerer knew I wouldn’t be with the army so he did the one thing that would ensure he could get to me easily.”

Lukas unsheathed his sword and slowly opened the door, glancing back and forth down both sides of the hallway. “What do you suggest we do?” he whispered.

“We need to get to Brayden and the others. Once everyone realizes what’s going on they’ll all come back inside the palace, but until then we’re stuck in here fighting our own battle. Let’s try to get outside with everyone else.”

“Let’s go,” Lukas agreed. With his sword poised in his grasp and mine held firmly in my hand, we both set out into the hallway and briskly walked toward the next corridor. The second we heard his voice we froze.

“Ariella, where are you?” he called out. However, his voice wasn’t his normal one. It was one I knew well.

“It’s Prince Brayden,” Lukas muttered, starting toward him. I grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

“No, it’s not. Trust me, it’s not him. I would know if it was Brayden. Can you not feel the evil slithering around you?”

The stench of dark magic permeated all around me and I knew we were almost out of time. We had nowhere else to go except in a different room. Taking Lukas’ hand, I pulled him through the door closest to us into the bedroom beyond and shut it quietly. I needed to think.

“How do I kill him?” he asked.

Turning to him, I sighed and shook my head. “You can’t. We don’t have a way to kill him right now. He can turn into his shadow self and disappear before a blade could even run him through.”

Lukas grabbed my shoulders and squeezed, his blue gaze frantic yet determined. “I want you to hide, Princess. I’ll distract the sorcerer so you can get away.”

“No,” I hissed quietly. “I’m not going to let you do this. I have an idea, but whatever you do don’t freak out on me, okay?”

Impatiently, he furrowed his brows and started to protest, but then his mouth opened wide when he saw me change form right in front of his eyes. I was no longer Ariella, but a dark-haired, fair-skinned Winter Fae woman.

“Princess?” Lukas asked. “How did you do that?”

“I don’t have time to explain. Just play along with what I do.”

I flung myself into his arms and pressed my body against his like we were lovers trying to steal a few moments together. The door burst open, and standing in the doorway was the sorcerer pretending to be Brayden with a smirk on his face, thinking he caught me. When he realized it wasn’t me in the room, his expression grew fierce, angry.

“Where is the princess?” he demanded. “I know she’s here.”

Lukas kept his expression blank and shook his head. In his hand he held his sword firmly, ready to strike. Please don’t let him do anything stupid. The sorcerer moved into the room and lifted his head as if he was trying to sniff me out.

“She’s not in here,” Lukas said through clenched teeth.

“Where are you hiding her? I can sense she’s near,” he snapped. He pulled out a dagger from his belt and Lukas and I both tensed. It was the iron blade that could poison us and kill us within minutes. Oh, no!

“Ariella, what’s wrong?” Brayden screamed in my mind.

“Lukas and I are in trouble. It was all a ruse. The sorcerer has been inside the palace trying to find me while all of you are out there guarding the gates,” I told him quickly.